While urgent dental care refers to mouth conditions that must be attended to immediately to avoid further pain or infections, dental emergencies are life-threatening situations that can hinder breathing. Whether it’s emergency dentistry or urgent care, both require the intervention of a dentist Pasadena as soon as possible. If you’re facing an issue with your oral health and are unsure of what it is, this article will help you identify your dental needs.
When Would You Need to Visit an Emergency Dentist?
Tooth Pain and Swelling
Tooth pain and swelling are often overlooked. However, it’s usually a result of serious dental issues like exposed roots, tooth decay, abscesses, or gum infections. If you’ve tried your best to reduce the swelling and pain to no avail, then you may consider visiting an emergency dentist and not have to keep waiting for a regular appointment.
Post-dental Surgery Complications
If you’ve recently had a dental surgery treatment and you notice something unusual with your teeth after the procedure, then you should visit the emergency center immediately. Your dentist will help to check if the recovery process is still going smoothly or if there’s an infection. In most cases, post-dental complications are due to infections.
Chipped or Broken Tooth
While you may think a chipped or broken tooth is nothing to worry about, it’s classified under emergency dentistry and must be attended to immediately. If you have a broken or chipped tooth, consult a dentist to determine the severity of the damage. If left untreated, a broken tooth can lead to infections, osteomyelitis, or an abscess.
Lost Filling or Crown
Fillings or crowns help to protect damaged teeth to prevent further damage. Most times, lost fillings or crowns could indicate dental problems like cavities. It can also cause increased tooth sensitivity if left untreated. Therefore, if you discover that your fillings or crowns are missing, you should seek help immediately.
Knocked-out Tooth
If you’ve had a knocked-out tooth, there’s a need to get assistance immediately for your teeth to function optimally. A professional dentist can help you replant the tooth if you act fast. Your dentist will determine the suitable solution for you based on the extent of the damage.
If you have any of the above emergency dental needs, it’s crucial to call the emergency services or 111 immediately as any further delay could lead to further damage and more severe problems.
When Do You Need Urgent Dental Care?
Bleeding Gums
Although bleeding gums may get you scared or worried, it is not a dental emergency. However, this doesn’t mean it’s okay for your gums to bleed. On the contrary, it’s an indication that you’re not in good oral health. If you experience bleeding gums, it may be a sign of gingivitis. While gingivitis is a minor dental problem caused when the gums are irritated by plaque, if not treated on time, it can lead to a more serious problem.
Pain While Chewing
People experience pain while eating due to many reasons. However, not all pains are emergency cases. The type of pain you experience will determine if you need emergency treatment or not. If the enamel above the sensitive dentin is lost, you may experience pain when you eat hot or cold meals. The pain will be sharp and stinging. On the other hand, if you have damaged or cracked teeth, you may experience pain when you bite down.
Serious facial or dental pain that can’t be treated with prescription or nonprescription drugs and infections that are still within the tooth or gums are also examples of urgent dental care. If your condition requires urgent dental care, ensure you visit your dentist within 24 hours.
You have a Sore or Growth
Growth in the mouth that doesn’t go away with time could be an early sign of oral cancer. As such you need to get in touch with a dentist as soon as you notice the growth. The dentist will examine the growth and recommend some screening to check the likely cause of the growth.
You Feel a Metal Taste in Your Mouth
If you’ve received a filling in the past and you start to notice a metal taste in your mouth, it is possible that your old amalgam filling is cracked or loose. So to avoid a root canal, toothache, or other oral complications, it is best to call your dentist immediately.
Now that you know the difference between emergency dentistry and urgent dental care, deciding which is right for dental needs should be easy. To be on the safer side, it’s essential to always go for routine dental checkups. This will help you avoid the need for emergency dentistry and urgent dental care as much as possible.
Find The Right Dentist For Your Wisdom Tooth Extraction In Singapore
Find The Right Dentist For Your Wisdom Tooth Extraction In Singapore